Police standoff ends peacefully

Newton police and other law enforcement officials closed several blocks around a northeast Newton home on Sunday after a welfare check went awry and a Newton man was believed to have a weapon.

Authorities were called to the 700 block of East Fifth Street North just before 1 p.m. Sunday.

According to Newton Police Lt. Wes Breckenridge, officers became concerned when, during the welfare check, 34-year-old Benjamin Patrick Coover fled back into his home as officers arrived.

Afraid that the individual may cause himself harm, negotiations began by phone while officers blocked off public access to the area around the home.

Negotiations ended peacefully around 3:25 p.m. with no one harmed, Breckenridge said.

“In a situation like that we set up a perimeter for security and then we’ll send out a code red alert notifying all the neighbors,” he said. “And then we try to resolve it peacefully.”

Coover was not taken into custody but transported to Skiff Medical Center for treatment.

Police officials said that approximately 10 officers were involved in the standoff, and the Iowa State Patrol assisted the NPD during the incident.